Ben met Tracey when they were at Hull University and she was singing in pop girl-band Marine Girls. Ben contributed a photograph, for a forthcoming album cover, after which, the pair became partners (later getting married). They formed Everything But the Girl in 1982, the name inspired by a Turner's Furniture advertising slogan (a popular store near the university). For a period, Tracey was active in both bands and the album with Ben's photo materialised, Lazy Ways (Apr 1983), which was to be Marine Girls' last. EBTG soon achieved national success and singles from The Language of Life (1990), got VH-1 airtime - heralding USA notoriety.
Once internationally established, they successfully achieved one of the greatest stylistic changes in modern music; originally a 'folk-pop with jazz influences' band, their fortunes changed with Amplified Heart (Jul 1994) and Todd Terry's successful remix of its track "Missing" (Aug 1994). Since then, EBTG have become more widely known as an electronic act, with Walking Wounded (May 1996), being a well-received example of their metamorphosed sound.
As of 1999, EBTG as a duo are currently on hiatus, as the couple raise their children, out of the public eye. Watt is a very successful club DJ, Buzzin Fly label-manager and remixer, releasing several 'Lazy Dog' mix compilations (named after his London-based deep house night).
Thorn's 2006 collaboration with Tiefschwarz, on the underground hit song "Damage", seems to have re-awoken her artistic spirit and she released a second solo album, Out of the Woods (Mar 2007).
As of March 2023 evidence that the hiatus will end soon emerges in an interview with Alexis Petridis, in which the release date of the new album 'Fuse' is given as 21 April. This new music was first mentioned by Tracy Thorn on twitter in late 2022, and now it emerging, with 2 new singles already released
These Early Days
Everything But the Girl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And nothing happened yet that you might ever wish to forget.
It doesn't stay that way, if I could I'd make stay that way.
And this you will recall in after years,
Though you may weary of this vale of tears -
These days remember, always remember.
You're only two and I've no wish to worry you,
So pay no mind to those who say the world is unkind -
And if I could I'd strike them dead.
And this you will recall in after years,
Though you may weary of this vale of tears -
These days remember, always remember.
And honey there's no rush,
The world will wait for you to grow up.
And this you will recall in after years,
Though you may weary of this vale of tears -
These days remember, always remember.
I hope you never change,
I'll call you Jimmy, they call you James;
Don't ever change,
I'll call you Jimmy, they call you James.
These Early Days by Everything But the Girl is a song that speaks to the innocence of youth and the promise that comes with it. In the opening lines, the lyrics paint a picture of a young child, an innocent in the center of the world, where nothing has happened yet that they might wish to forget. The sentiment that "it doesn't stay that way" reflects the inevitable journey that we all take through life, from the innocence of childhood to the complications and difficulties that come later.
The song's chorus becomes a call-to-action of sorts, urging the child to remember these early days and hold on to the promise and purity that it represents. When the singer says, "I hope you never change," they are expressing their longing for the child to hold on to the purity of youth and never lose that sense of innocence and wonder in the face of the world's harsh realities. The lyrics go on to reassure the child that the world will wait for them to grow up, that they need not feel rushed to become an adult before their time.
Line by Line Meaning
You're only two and the whole wild world revolves around you,
At your young age, everything in the world seems to revolve around you and your needs, desires and thoughts.
And nothing happened yet that you might ever wish to forget.
You haven't experienced anything yet that you would want to forget or erase from your memory.
It doesn't stay that way, if I could I'd make stay that way.
Unfortunately, this state of being doesn't last forever, but if I had the power, I would make it stay that way.
And this you will recall in after years,
As you grow older, you will remember these early days and how the world seemed to revolve around you.
Though you may weary of this vale of tears -
Even though life can be difficult and full of challenges that may make you tired and sad.
These days remember, always remember.
Remember these early days always and treasure the memories of feeling like the world revolves around you.
You're only two and I've no wish to worry you,
I don't want to worry you at your age and make you feel like the world is not a kind place.
So pay no mind to those who say the world is unkind -
Don't listen to those who say that the world is a cruel and unforgiving place.
That's just something they've read,
They've probably read or heard about the dark side of the world, but it's not always true.
And if I could I'd strike them dead.
If only I could get rid of all those negative people who spread pessimism and gloom.
And honey there's no rush,
Don't worry about growing up too fast, take your time and enjoy being a child.
The world will wait for you to grow up.
The world will not end if you don't grow up quickly, it will wait patiently for you.
I hope you never change,
I love you just the way you are, I hope you never lose your innocence and sense of wonder.
I'll call you Jimmy, they call you James;
I like the name Jimmy better than James, so I'll call you that even if others prefer the latter.
Don't ever change,
Stay true to yourself and don't let anyone change or mold you into someone else.
I'll call you Jimmy, they call you James.
I'll always call you Jimmy even if others call you by your given name James.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shodanart
Tracy’s poignant lyrics:
You're only two and the whole wild world revolves around you,
And nothing happened yet that you might ever wish to forget.
It doesn't stay that way, if I could I'd make stay that way.
And this you will recall in after years,
Though you may weary of this vale of tears -
These days remember, always remember.
You're only two and I've no wish to worry you,
So pay no mind to those who say the world is unkind -
That's just something they've read,
And if I could I'd strike them dead.
And this you will recall in after years,
Though you may weary of this vale of tears -
These days remember, always remember.
And honey there's no rush,
The world will wait for you to grow up.
And this you will recall in after years,
Though you may weary of this vale of tears -
These days remember, always remember.
I hope you never change,
I'll call you Jimmy, they call you James;
Don't ever change,
I'll call you Jimmy, they call you James.
@EverythingButTheGirlOfficial
More music from Everything But The Girl: https://EBTG.lnk.to/Stream
@purpleivy9174
Everything But The Girl I have been searching for you guys for years! Forgot your name but never your songs. Maybe 2020 might be looking up a little bit.
@willritter4076
you've never found EBTG's last great song... there's always another one to discover!
@danielburtson2632
Absolutely!!
@lucianoutrini6749
Eternal glory to Tracey for simplicity, humility, humanity and natural elegance in her way of singing and being. Thank you EBTG :-)
@jeremyroberts2923
Just beautiful..they call you JImmy I call you James—thanks Ben &Tracy—nostalgia at its best
@timflaherty6432
Idlewild is on of my favorite albums, ever! This is such a beautiful song.
@shodanart
This is so special. Upbeat almost a country twang to Ben’s arpeggios; both happy - No one can phrase a line like Tracy...Tracy with her melancholy voice, so rare they smile and almost laugh together at 0.54. There’s a unique sex appeal to Tracy sad eyes, in her voice and intelligent lyrics. How she is a feminist and still sexy !!
@ahmedsredy2429
EBTG ,my favorite band it brings memories from my twenties :early days of life plans that wouldn't come to fruition,yes thank you God for Everything ,it could be worse l appreciate very much that Mrs Watts (l mean Tracy Thorn) has developed her creative process from song writing and singing to authoring interesting books ,also her activism for women's rights ,thanks EBTG.GOD BLESS YOU
@ZeldaFitz
Point me in the direction of the rights I have as a man that she doesn’t?